I wasn’t the kind of person to look back too often in life. My motto was to keep going forwards, but Braden was a sentimental bastard. Instead of replying to him, I simply nodded in agreement.

“You know,” he mused, “it’s sad, but I think in a way Shelly’s death brought you two together.”

My eyebrows drew together. “How the fuck do you figure that?” Jesus, what a morbid fucking thought.

“No, think about it. After her death and all the shit our families went through with our parents cheating, and then all the shit Evie went through, she needed you, and, in a weird way, you needed her. It brought you closer.”

“I still don’t follow,” I muttered.

“You do realise Evie blamed herself for Shelly’s death, right?”

Fuck.

“No, I didn’t know that,” I said softly.

“Jesus, Kick, you really were ignorant, weren’t you? When Shelly fell out of the tree, Evie was supposed to be watching her, but she was too busy flirting with you. She blames herself because of that, I’m sure of it. And on top of the blame she dumped on herself, she ended up doubting herself after being bullied. You helped her and gave her the confidence in herself she needed. In return, she ended up loving you unconditionally, and gave you the sense of family you didn’t get from ours.”

I stared at him. “Well fuck, Braden, what are you? Some kind of psych?” I was fucking impressed with his analysis, though.

He grinned. “Fuck off.” He tapped his head and said, “I’m just the brains of the family, asshole.”

A hush came over the marquee, and I turned to see Evie entering. Fuck, my wife-to-be was beautiful. She had on a fitted white long dress that made her tits pop just enough for me but not so much that every fucking asshole here would be ogling them. And she had her hair up, which I loved because it gave me full access to her neck.

As she walked towards me, our eyes did not leave each other. I was so captivated by her gaze, I couldn’t even drag mine down her body to check out her killer curves. Over the past few months, Evie had stopped worrying so much about her weight and dieting and all that bullshit. And I was fucking rejoicing because her curves had returned.

She’s made me a happy man in more ways than one.

When she came closer, her father, who had walked her down the aisle, gave me her hand, and I did my best not to snatch it. Fuck, I had it bad today.

Once I held her hand in mine, I pulled her to me and whispered, “Fuck, baby, you look beautiful.”

She blessed me with a smile that could take a man’s breath away. “Thank you.”

She really had nothing to be thanking me for because I was the one who should be thanking her.

Evie had brought peace to my life.

Bonus Chapter

Evie

After he’d unlocked the front door of our home, Kick scooped me up into his arms. “Welcome home, Mrs Hanson,” he said with a huge grin on his face.

Mrs Hanson.

I grinned back at him, my tummy still full of the butterflies that had inhabited it all day. My wedding day truly had been the best day of my life. “I love you, Mr Hanson,” I said softly.

Kick entered the house, closed the door behind him with his boot, and walked intently down the hall. My body buzzed with desire. It had been a long day and I was exhausted, but never too exhausted to play with Kick.

As he walked down the hall, my gaze landed on the frames we’d hung. Photos of us and of our family lined the walls. I remembered the day we’d hung them. Kick had announced his desire to fill the walls with photos of our children. He wanted three and couldn’t wait to get started. I’d gone off birth control immediately and he’d spent every morning and night since working on making it happen.

I had good news for him tonight, but first, I would let him play because I feared once he was told, he would turn all overprotective, and pull back on the rough play.

When we reached our bedroom at the end of the hall, he entered it and dumped me on the bed. I bounced a little and then rested on my elbows, watching him, waiting for his next move.

His intense gaze roamed over my body as he removed his cut and placed it on the armchair in the corner of the room. I loved that armchair. It was where he often sat and watched me while I slept. Waking up to find Kick’s hungry eyes on me was the best way to wake up.

He slowly removed the rest of his clothes, and my desire built as he drew it out.

I was impatient for my man.

When he crawled onto the bed, over me, I thought I would burst from the desire. “Kick -”

“Shhh,” he whispered, placing his finger over my lips to silence me. He pushed me onto my back and then bent to take one of my nipples into his mouth.

Yes.

I gripped the sheet and dug my toes into the bed. I’d been without Kick’s mouth for over twenty-four hours. This was like coming home.

He let my nipple go and raised his head to look at me, his need raw on his face. “You got any idea just how ready I am to fuck you?” he growled as he pressed his erection into me.

Fuck.

I reached my hands to grab the back of his head and pulled his face to mine. Our lips collided a second later in a rough kiss; the kiss we’d both been aching for all day. While he kissed me, he began tearing at my clothes. My wedding dress was practically sewn onto me, though, and he quickly grew impatient and frustrated with its removal.

Pulling his lips from mine, he complained, “Fuck, Evie, are you trying to block my access tonight?” His gaze moved over my dress and I could see his mind trying to figure out the best way to get it off.